永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第9部分

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〃We're　almost　up。〃
〃He's　dead　I　think；〃　I　said。
The　drops　fell　very　slowly；　as　they　fall　from　an　icicle　after　the　sun　has　gone。　It　was　cold　in　the　car　in　the　night　as　the　road　climbed。　At　the　post　on　the　top　they　took　the　stretcher　out　and　put　another　in　and　we　went　on。




10


In　the　ward　at　the　field　hospital　they　told　me　a　visitor　was　ing　to　see　me　in　the　afternoon。　It　was　a　hot　day　and　there　were　many　flies　in　the　room。　My　orderly　had　cut　paper　into　strips　and　tied　the　strips　to　a　stick　to　make　a　brush　that　swished　the　flies　away。　I　watched　them　settle　on　the　ceiling。　When　he　stopped　swishing　and　fell　asleep　they　came　down　and　I　blew　them　away　and　finally　covered　my　face　with　my　hands　and　slept　too。　It　was　very　hot　and　when　I　woke　my　legs　itched。　I　waked　the　orderly　and　he　poured　mineral　water　on　the　dressings。　That　made　the　bed　damp　and　cool。　Those　of　us　that　were　awake　talked　across　the　ward。　The　afternoon　was　a　quiet　time。　In　the　morning　they　came　to　each　bed　in　turn；　three　men　nurses　and　a　doctor　and　picked　you　up　out　of　bed　and　carried　you　into　the　dressing　room　so　that　the　beds　could　be　made　while　we　were　having　our　wounds　dressed。　It　was　not　a　pleasant　trip　to　the　dressing　room　and　I　did　not　know　until　later　that　beds　could　be　made　with　men　in　them。　My　orderly　had　finished　pouring　water　and　the　bed　felt　cool　and　lovely　and　I　was　telling　him　where　to　scratch　on　the　soles　of　my　feet　against　the　itching　when　one　of　the　doctors　brought　in　Rinaldi。　He　came　in　very　fast　and　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　kissed　me。　I　saw　he　wore　gloves。
〃How　are　you；　baby？　How　do　you　feel？　I　bring　you　this……〃　It　was　a　bottle　of　cognac。　The　orderly　brought　a　chair　and　he　sat　down；　〃and　good　news。　You　will　be　decorated。　They　want　to　get　you　the　medaglia　d'argento　but　perhaps　they　can　get　only　the　bronze。〃
〃What　for？〃
〃Because　you　are　gravely　wounded。　They　say　if　you　can　prove　you　did　any　heroic　act　you　can　get　the　silver。　Otherwise　it　will　be　the　bronze。　Tell　me　exactly　what　happened。　Did　you　do　any　heroic　act？〃
〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　blown　up　while　we　were　eating　cheese。〃
〃Be　serious。　You　must　have　done　something　heroic　either　before　or　after。　Remember　carefully。〃
〃I　did　not。〃
〃Didn't　you　carry　anybody　on　your　back？　Gordini　says　you　carried　several　people　on　your　back　but　the　medical　major　at　the　first　post　declares　it　is　impossible。　He　had　to　sign　the　proposition　for　the　citation。〃
〃I　didn't　carry　anybody。　I　couldn't　move。〃
〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　said　Rinaldi。
He　took　off　his　gloves。
〃I　think　we　can　get　you　the　silver。　Didn't　you　refuse　to　be　medically　aided　before　the　others？〃
〃Not　very　firmly。〃
〃That　doesn't　matter。　Look　how　you　are　wounded。　Look　at　your　valorous　conduct　in　asking　to　go　always　to　the　first　line。　Besides；　the　operation　was　successful。〃
〃Did　they　cross　the　river　all　right？〃
〃Enormously。　They　take　nearly　a　thousand　prisoners。　It's　in　the　bulletin。　Didn't　you　see　it？〃
〃No。〃
〃I'll　bring　it　to　you。　It　is　a　successful　coup　de　main。〃
〃How　is　everything？〃
〃Splendid。　We　are　all　splendid。　Everybody　is　proud　of　you。　Tell　me　just　exactly　how　it　happened。　I　am　positive　you　will　get　the　silver。　Go　on　tell　me。　Tell　me　all　about　it。〃　He　paused　and　thought。　〃Maybe　you　will　get　an　English　medal　too。　There　was　an　English　there。　I'll　go　and　see　him　and　ask　if　he　will　remend　you。　He　ought　to　be　able　to　do　something。　Do　you　suffer　much？　Have　a　drink。　Orderly；　go　get　a　corkscrew。　Oh　you　should　see　what　I　did　in　the　removal　of　three　metres　of　small　intestine　and　better　now　than　ever。　It　is　one　for　The　Lancet。　You　do　me　a　translation　and　I　will　send　it　to　The　Lancet。　Every　day　I　am　better。　Poor　dear　baby；　how　do　you　feel？　Where　is　that　damn　corkscrew？　You　are　so　brave　and　quiet　I　forget　you　are　suffering。〃　He　slapped　his　gloves　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。
〃Here　is　the　corkscrew；　Signor　Tenente；〃　the　orderly　said。
〃Open　the　bottle。　Bring　a　glass。　Drink　that；　baby。　How　is　your　poor　head？　I　looked　at　your　papers。　You　haven't　any　fracture。　That　major　at　the　first　post　was　a　hog…butcher。　I　would　take　you　and　never　hurt　you。　I　never　hurt　anybody。　I　learn　how　to　do　it。　Every　day　I　learn　to　do　things　smoother　and　better。　You　must　forgive　me　for　talking　so　much；　baby。　I　am　very　moved　to　see　you　badly　wounded。　There；　drink　that。　It's　good。　It　cost　fifteen　lire。　It　ought　to　be　good。　Five　stars。　After　I　leave　here　I'll　go　see　that　English　and　he'll　get　you　an　English　medal。〃
〃They　don't　give　them　like　that。〃
〃You　are　so　modest。　I　will　send　the　liaison　officer。　He　can　handle　the　English。〃
〃Have　you　seen　Miss　Barkley？〃
〃I　will　bring　her　here。　I　will　go　now　and　bring　her　here。〃
〃Don't　go；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　about　Gorizia。　How　are　the　girls？〃
〃There　are　no　girls。　For　two　weeks　now　they　haven't　changed　them。　I　don't　go　there　any　more。　It　is　disgraceful。　They　aren't　girls；　they　are　old　war　rades。〃
〃You　don't　go　at　all？〃
〃I　just　go　to　see　if　there　is　anything　new。　I　stop　by。　They　all　ask　for　you。　It　is　a　disgrace　that　they　should　stay　so　long　that　they　bee　friends。〃
〃Maybe　girls　don't　want　to　go　to　the　front　any　more。〃
〃Of　course　they　do。　They　have　plenty　of　girls。　It　is　just　bad　administration。　They　are　keeping　them　for　the　pleasure　of　dugout　hiders　in　the　rear。〃
〃Poor　Rinaldi；〃　I　said。　〃All　alone　at　the　war　with　no　new　girls。〃
Rinaldi　poured　himself　another　glass　of　the　cognac。
〃I　don't　think　it　will　hurt　you；　baby。　You　take　it。〃
I　drank　the　cognac　and　felt　it　warm　all　the　way　down。　Rinaldi　poured　another　glass。　He　was　quieter　now。　He　held　up　the　glass。　〃To　your　valorous　wounds。　To　the　silver　medal。　Tell　me；　baby；　when　you　lie　here　all　the　time　in　the　hot　weather　don't　you　get　excited？〃
〃Sometimes。〃
〃I　can't　imagine　lying　like　that。　I　would　go　crazy。〃
〃You　are　crazy。〃
〃I　wish　you　were　back。　No　one　to　e　in　at　night　from　adventures。　No　one　to　make　fun　of。　No　one　to　lend　me　money。　No　blood　brother　and　roommate。　Why　do　you　get　yourself　wounded？〃
〃You　can　make　fun　of　the　priest。〃
〃That　priest。　It　isn't　me　that　makes　fun　of　him。　It　is　the　captain。　I　like　him。　If　you　must　have　a　priest　have　that　priest。　He's　ing　to　see　you。　He　makes　big　preparations。〃
〃I　like　him。〃
〃Oh；　I　knew　it。　Sometimes　I　think　you　and　he　are　a　little　that　way。　You　know。〃
〃No；　you　don't。〃
〃Yes；　I　do　sometimes。　A　little　that　way　like　the　number　of　the　first　regiment　of　the　Brigata　Ancona。〃
〃Oh；　go　to　hell。〃
He　stood　up　and　put　on　his　gloves。
〃Oh　I　love　to　tease　you；　baby。　With　your　priest　and　your　English　girl；　and　really　you　are　just　like　me　underneath。〃
〃No；　I'm　not。〃
〃Yes；　we　are。　You　are　really　an　Italian。　All　fire　and　smoke　and　nothing　inside。　You　only　pretend　to　be　American。　We　are　brothers　and　we　love　each　other。〃
〃Be　good　while　I'm　gone；〃　I　said。
〃I　will　send　Miss　Barkley。　You　are　better　with　her　without　me。　You　are　purer　and　sweeter。〃
〃Oh；　go　to　hell。〃
〃I　will　send　her。　Your　lovely　cool　goddess。　English　goddess。　My　God　what　would　a　man　do　with　a　woman　like　that　except　worship　her？　What　else　is　an　Englishwoman　good　for？〃
〃You　are　an　ignorant　foul…mouthed　dago。〃
〃A　what？〃
〃An　ignorant　wop。〃
〃Wop。　You　are　a　frozen…faced　。　。　。　wop。〃
〃You　are　ignorant。　Stupid。〃　I　saw　that　word　pricked　him　and　kept　on。　〃Uninformed。　Inexperienced；　stupid　from　inexperience。〃
〃Truly？　I　tell　you　something　about　your　good　women。　Your　goddesses。　There　is　only　one　difference　between　taking　a　girl　who　has　always　been　good　and　a　woman。　With　a　girl　it　is　painful。　That's　all　I　know。〃　He　slapped　the　bed　with　his　glove。　〃And　you　never　know　if　the　girl　will　really　like　it。〃
〃Don't　get　angry。〃
〃I'm　not　angry。　I　just　tell　you；　baby；　for　your　own　good。　To　save　you　trouble。〃
〃That's　the　only　difference？〃
〃Yes。　But　millions　of　fools　like　you　don't　know　it。〃
〃You　were　sweet　to　tell　me。〃
〃We　won't　quarrel；　baby。　I　love　you　too　much。　But　don't　be　a　fool。〃
〃No。　I'll　be　wise　like　you。〃
〃Don't　be　angry；　baby。　Laugh。　Take　a　drink。　I　must　go；　really。〃
〃You're　a　good　old　boy。〃
〃Now　you　see。　Underneath　we　are　the　same。　We　are　war　brothers。　Kiss　me　good…by。〃
〃You're　sloppy。〃
〃No。　I　am　just　more　affectionate。〃
I　felt　his　breath　e　toward　me。　〃Good…by。　I　e　to　see　you　again　soon。〃　His　breath　went　away。　〃I　won't　kiss　you　if　you　don't　want。　I'll　send　your　English　girl。　Good…by；　baby。　The　cognac　is　under　the　bed。　Get　well　soon。〃
He　was　gone。




11


It　was　dusk　when　the　priest　came。　They　had　brought　the　soup　and　afterward　taken　away　the　bowls　and　I　was　lying　looking　at　the　rows　of　beds　and　out　the　window　at　the　tree…top　that　moved　a　little　in　the　evening　breeze。　The　breeze　came　in　through　the　window　and　it　was　cooler　with　the　evening。　The　flies　were　on　the　ceiling　now　and　on　the　electric　light　bulbs　that　hung　on　wires。　The　lights　were　only　turned　on　when　some　one　was　brought　in　at　night　or　when　something　was　being　done。　It　made　me　feel　very　young　to　have　the　dark　e　after　the　dusk　and　then　remain。　It　was　like　being　put　to　bed　after　early　supper。　The　orderly　came　down　between　the　beds　and　stopped。　Some　one　was　with　him。　It　was　the　priest。　He　stood　there　small；　brown…faced；　and　embarrassed。
〃How　do　you　do？〃　he　asked。　He　put　some　packages　down　by　the　bed；　on　the　floor。
〃All　right；　father。〃
He　sat　down　in　the　chair　that　had　been　brought　for　Rinaldi　and　looked　out　of　the　window　embarrassedly。　I　noticed　his　face　looked　Very　tired。
〃I　can　only　stay　a　minute；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　late。〃
〃It's　not　late。　How　is　the　mess？〃
He　smiled。　〃I　am　still　a　great　joke；〃　he　sounded　tired　too。　〃Thank　God　they　are　all　well。
〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope　you　don't　suffer。〃　He　seemed　very　tired　and　I　was　not　used　to　seeing　him　tired。
〃Not　any　more。〃
〃I　miss　you　at　the　mess。〃
〃I　wish　I　were　there。　I　always　enjoyed　our　talking。〃
〃I　brought　you　a　few　little　things；〃　he　said。　He　picked　up　the　packages。　〃This　is　mosquito　netting。　This　is　a　bottle　of　vermouth。　You　like　vermouth？　These　are　English　papers。〃
〃Please　open　them。〃
He　was　pleased　and　undid　them。　I　held　the　mosquito　netting　in　my　hands。　The　vermouth　he　held　up　for　me　to　see　and　then　put　it　on　the　floor　beside　the　bed。　I　held　up　one　of　the　sheaf　of　English　papers。　I　could　read　the　headlines　by　turning　it　so　the　half…light　from　the　window　was　on　it。　It　was　_The　News　of　the　World_。
〃The　others　are　illustrated；〃　he　said。
〃It　will　be　a　great　happiness　to　read　them。　Where　did　you　get　them？〃
〃I　sent　for　them　to　Mestre。　I　will　have　more。〃
〃You　were　very　good　to　e；　father。　Will　you　drink　a　glass　of　vermouth？〃
〃Thank　you。　You　keep　it。　It's　for　you。〃
〃No；　drink　a　glass。〃
〃All　right。　I　will　bring　you　more　then。〃
The　orderly　brought　the　glasses　and　opened　the　bottle。　He　broke　off　the　cork　and　the　end　had　to　be　shoved　down　into　the　bottle。　I　could　see　the　priest　was　disappointed　but　he　said；　〃That's　all　right。　It's　no　matter。〃
〃Here's　to　your　health；　father。〃
〃To　your　better　health。〃
Afterward　he　held　the　glass　in　his　hand　and　we　looked　at　one　another。　Sometimes　we　talked　and　were　good　friends　but　to…night　it　was　difficult。
〃What's　the　matter；　father？　You　seem　very　tired。〃
〃I　am　tired　but　I　have　no　right　to　be。〃
〃It's　the　heat。〃
〃No。　This　is　only　the　spring。　I　feel　very　low。〃
〃You　have　the　war　disgust。〃
〃No。　But　I　hate　th